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Optical data storage is the use of light to write and read information to and from a memory device. Storage can be achieved by using lasers to pattern a surface, such as on a compact disc, or altering the physical properties of a small volume inside a light sensitive material.
Chu and colleagues explore holographic data storage as a replacement for hard disk drives, introducing an energy optimization framework for Fe concentrations in iron-doped lithium niobate. Their approach results in a record-breaking performance in both read and density.
Inspired by fireflies, a bimodal information indication system using a photochemical afterglow material within a photonic crystal matrix is developed to display both static and changing information, such as sample type and degree of degradation.
Optical nanoscale disk memory with petabit-level capacity is developed by extending the recording architecture to three dimensions with hundreds of layers, and exabit-level storage can be achieved by stacking the disks into arrays.
Photonic integrated circuits have grown as potential hardware for neural networks and quantum computing, yet the tuning speed and large power consumption limited the application. Here, authors introduce the memresonator, a memristor heterogeneously integrated with a microring resonator, as a non-volatile silicon photonic phase shifter to address these limitations.
The ability to create and erase three-dimensional patterns of perovskite quantum dots in glass using a femtosecond laser could bring new opportunities in displays, security marking and data storage.